Former Guam Housing and Urban Renewal Authority legal counsel Mark Smith, who faces federal wire fraud and money laundering charges, has asked the court to postpone his Nov. 20 trial date, for five or six months, so a new defense attorney can be hired and prepared for trial.

Smith is accused of benefitting from the federally funded Section 8 rental assistance program, despite conflict of interest rules that prohibited him from participating as a landlord.

Smith allegedly transferred his rental properties to his friend and codefendant, Glenn Wong, who funneled the Section 8 rental payments back to Smith, through bank transfers or in cash, according to prosecutors.

Chief Judge Ramona Manglona on Sept. 22 declared a mistrial after finding that Smith’s original attorney, David Lujan, had a conflict that prevented Smith from receiving effective counsel.

Lujan also is a former GHURA legal counsel, who rented his properties to tenants under the Section 8 program, and prosecutors wanted to compare Lujan’s actions with Smith’s. Lujan objected to his name being used as evidence during trial.

“All the attorneys I have spoken with indicate before they can consider legal representation they will need a continued trial date. They will require five to six months to prepare for trial and to clear their schedules for a four to five-week long trial,” Smith told the court. He instead wants a status conference to be held on the original trial date, to update the court on his efforts to retain an attorney.